Transcript
Hugh:
Liddell is a factory filled with instruments, creating many sounds. This space probably hasn’t been seen as a musical instrument before, so we had to discover what kind of instrument or orchestra the power station is.
Hi, my name’s Hugh. I do things with sound. I’m a composer, musician, and a bit of a lab rat. This is my space, part museum and part high-tech lab. These are some of my tools: a portable recorder with microphones and a wind sock to reduce noise from the wind. It has inputs on the side. This is a contact microphone, which acts like a stethoscope for objects, picking up vibrations and recording them.
When I first arrived at Liddell, I had high hopes of capturing awesome acoustic impulse responses and wild clanking sounds. However, after being there for 15 minutes and understanding the nature of the power station with its massive turbines running for 50 years, I realized all I could capture was this low and loud 900 dB noise.
I placed my contact mic on different surfaces inside and outside the factory, and all I could hear was this low hum. It’s interesting that this sound has been running for 50 years, affecting wildlife and underground animals. It will be interesting to see how native species start to reinhabit the area now that the power station is off, and how the ecosystem will change.
Returning after the turbines were turned off was a whole other experience. Some staff found it eerie but also calmer without the high-frequency vibrations. I could finally record other sounds. The collaboration with the staff was great; they would point out sounds I could capture, like a creaky gate that’s now part of their daily routine.
Back in my studio, I carefully listen to and process the audio, allowing the sounds to inspire compositional ideas. These compositions can convey meaning or provide entertainment and distraction from daily life.
The people at Liddell had a strong community spirit. While they were looking forward to the change, they were also excited about the future, with 90% of the power station being recycled and the site being converted into a green energy site. It’s fascinating to store, repurpose, and recycle these sounds, giving workers a way to reconnect with their memories and community through familiar sounds.
I’m excited to share this work and see how people respond to a power plant being repurposed as a musical instrument. Liddell, as a piece of music or an instrument played for 50 years, is now captured in its final moments. This work aims to preserve those memories and give others a sense of what Liddell was like for the people who worked there.
